Oettinger reflects on the opportunity to play in front of family

When Jake Oettinger was around 11, he received one of the best gifts of his young life.
His stepmom got him a "Fathead", one of those huge wall decorations of professional athletes, of Oettinger's favorite player, Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury.
"It was Fleury in his Winter Classic with the navy blue Penguins setup," Oettinger said as he remembered back. "It was pretty nice."

So, what would 11-year-old Jake say today as his older self prepares to face his favorite player in a First Round Stanley Cup Playoffs showdown against the Minnesota Wild? What would he say knowing that this series that will soon land at Xcel Energy Center, just a short drive from his home in Lakeville, Minnesota?
"He'd obviously be pumped," Oetinger said on Sunday. "You can't draw it up any better than this."
There are a dozen storylines dancing around this First Round series, from the long-standing rivalry between the two states after the North Stars moved to Texas in 1993, to the Stars facing former defenseman John Klingberg. But the one thing that could have the most impact on the game is probably Oettinger's history with the building and Fleury. Oettinger played in the Minnesota state high school hockey tournament as a freshman in 2015. He wears No. 29 because Fleury was his favorite player, and he expects a huge crowd of friends and family to be in the building on Friday for Game 3.
It's a lot to digest, but Oettinger seems to be more excited than intimidated.
"It's what I wanted to do when I was little, and I'm just living my dream every single day," Oettinger said.
Oettinger, 24, has shown throughout his young career that he's mentally tough. He was sent back to the minors at the beginning of last season and had to work his way back to the NHL. A couple of injuries opened the door, and he claimed the title of No. 1 goalie, eventually leading the Stars to Game 7 in the playoffs against Calgary. This year, he has been the go-to guy from the start and finished tied for third in wins with a 37-11-11 record. He ranks 10th in GAA at 2.37 and eighth in save percentage at .919. That's impressive for the youngest goalie the team has had in more than three decades.
"He's a special, special goalie, a special person," Stars coach Pete DeBoer said. "He's got great leadership. He's got great respect in our room. Guys play hard for him. Those are all characteristics of an elite goalie."
Oettinger played with several of his teammates in the AHL, so he has that connection. He also was ensconced in the bubble in 2020, so he knows the veterans, as well. He has generated a ton of confidence with his play and his demeanor.
"I know Jakey takes a lot of pride in his work," said leading scorer Jason Robertson, who routinely battles with Oettinger at practice. "That's something we've seen in the American League to now. He always comes to the rink and does what he needs to do to be prepared for the game. I think what we've seen in the past couple of years, is how much poise he's gained. He's always just so calm on the ice, so ready and focused. You can rely on him having your back on the ice."
Oettinger has a great pedigree. He's 6-5, 220 and was a first-round draft pick (26th overall) in 2017. He spent three years with the National Development Program and another three years at Boston University, so he's more than ready for this. He also has a very competitive streak when it comes to winning in opposing buildings. He loves to play the villain, and there's no better place than Minnesota to do that.
DeBoer laughed when he was asked about Oettinger's role in the series.
"I'm just trying to manage his bank account, trying to make sure he's not buying a couple hundred tickets every game," DeBoer said. "I talked to him about that, at some point you can't buy everyone in Minnesota to come watch you play."
DeBoer said he has full confidence that Oettinger can handle all the mental challenges that will come with the assignment.
"He's excited, obviously," DeBoer said. "I think for anyone coming home like that, it's a dream come true. But there are guys you have to spend time with on things like that and Jake's so mature beyond his years that it hasn't even crossed my radar."
All you have to do is ask him about the playoffs last season, and you'll see he is laser focused. Oettinger had 64 saves, but lost Game 7 in overtime on a perfect shot by Johnny Gaudreau. While many called it the best goaltending performance of the playoffs, Oettinger simply saw it as a loss.
When asked on Sunday how long it took to deal with the "last goal," Oettinger said, "I'll let you know when that happens."
When the laughter calmed down after his response, the big goalie shared a profound reflection.
"The thing that's the hardest for me, is the turnover," he said, referring to the fact that every team loses players in the off-season and has to start over. "The guys that you lose year in and year out, it sucks. So, for me, I want to play with this group for as long as I can. It's a great group of guys and we don't know what's going to happen next year, so we've got to make the most of what we can with this group."
At the end of the day, it's all about feeling like he's at home . . . no matter where he's playing.
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Mike Heika is a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on Twitter @MikeHeika